3 Overview of monitoring data
Health
Between July 2007 and June 2008, at least 55% of the eligible population of approximately 17 000 children under the age of 16 years received a child health check (CHC) under the NTER. Approximately two-thirds (69%) of these children were referred for at least one type of follow-up service. Provision of follow-up services commenced in all regions and will continue in 2008-09. The major impediments to the roll-out of the CHCs and follow-up services were local infrastructure, particularly accommodation for clinical work and staff housing, and workforce availability.
Support services for children were enhanced through the development and delivery of the new Sexual Assault Referral Centre Mobile Outreach Service (MOS) from April 2008. This service delivers counselling services to children, families and communities affected by child abuse.
In 2007-08, Indigenous children aged between 0-5 years from the NTER communities were most likely to be hospitalised as a result of infectious and parasitic diseases (35% of children hospitalised). Influenza and pneumonia were the primary causes (40%) of hospitalisation of Indigenous persons from the NTER communities for diseases associated with poor environmental health. The number of Indigenous children hospitalised in the seven month period July 2007 to January 2008 was just over half the number hospitalised for the full 2006-07 year.